Senators Criticize Trump Administration’s Demands to Access Health Data as a Condition for Lifesaving Aid

Eight Democratic senators have written to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, objecting to the Trump administration’s requirement that foreign health data be handed over as a condition for lifesaving aid, ProPublica reports. The lawmakers say the demand is unprecedented, runs counter to the administration’s own privacy policy, and could set a precedent that ultimately harms Americans. They point to a deal with Uganda that would give United States officials direct login access to the nation’s health‑information systems, a practice they say has never been required in global health programs. The senators also asked whether any of the shared data could be used by U.S. companies, including for training artificial‑intelligence models, and requested a written response by the end of August. The State Department declined to answer the specific questions, stating it does not comment on congressional correspondence.

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